Keiko was released from captivity after finding fame

The six-tonne orca died on Friday from suspected pneumonia in the Norwegian bay where he had been living out his days since his release from captivity.

Keiko, who was about 26, was buried in a pasture near to the bay where he had attracted many tourists to visit.

"We wanted to let him be at peace," said Dane Richards, one of his carers. "He's free now and in the wild."

The burial ground was so large that a machine had to be used to dig a hole, before Keiko was slid across the snow to the grave under the cover of night, with just seven people present.

"It was beautiful. He went to the grave quietly, quickly and peacefully, just like he died," said Mr Richards.

He added they had wanted to avoid the burial becoming a media circus.

Keiko rose to fame starring in the children's movies Free Willy, in which he played an orca kept in captivity.

In real life, Keiko was a captive killer whale sparking animal rights campaigners to raise funds to release him from the Mexican aquarium where he was kept.

Human company

He was eventually brought to Iceland, thought to be the orca's birthplace, for rehabilitation and training for living in the wild.

When released in 2002, Keiko headed for Norway's west coast, near the village of Halsa.

Such was his fame that visitors flocked to swim with him before a ban was imposed on humans approaching the killer whale.

Although Keiko was moved to a more remote spot, it appeared he liked the attention of humans.